When it comes to gadgets, buying a new device is the worst thing you can do for the environment.
Is your PC now outdated? Let's set the record straight!
Of all the energy the MacBook Air uses over its lifetime, only 15% comes from being plugged in. According to Apple’s own environmental report, 71% of the M1 Air’s lifecycle carbon emissions come from manufacturing and 8% from transportation. And that hot, power-guzzling 2019 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro is no different, accounting for just 19% of its total carbon emissions. And it’s not just MacBooks, of course. The same goes for everything you buy, including cars.
“From an environmental perspective, you should use your computer for as long as possible because the environmental impact of using your laptop is only a fraction of the total environmental impact during production, transportation and packaging,” Norway-based electrical engineer Bjorn Kvaale told Lifewire via email.
Much of buying a new computer/car/phone is self-justification. Rarely do we actually need a brand new model, certainly not every year or two. We pass those old iPhones down to family members because we know they’ll still work fine for years to come. And yet, at the same time, we convince ourselves that we have to have the newer version.
